This panel discusses the very important question of how early life conditions affect children’s human capital formation. Literature across different disciplines including medicine, developmental psychology, and economics highlights the importance of the in-utero period and the first years of life as critical stages for human development (Barker, 1995; Gluckman and Hanson, 2005; Heckman, 2007; Almond and Currie, 2010; Shonkoff and Phillips, 2000). This research predicts that any shock that alters the normal developmental conditions of the child could lead to future declines in socioeconomic outcomes (e.g., educational attainment, wages, health, productivity), that are difficult to reverse with later life interventions. The four papers in this panel examine different exposures to early life influences during pregnancy and infancy, and explore the issue of whether timing of exposures matters for the deterioration of later skill formation. Different types of early life conditions are analyzed and include weather shocks, violent conflict, indoor air pollution, and maternal employment; which correspond to global challenges that affect both developing and developed countries. These shocks affect different domains of child and family well-being: financial, physical, and psychological. The papers present the impact of these conditions on both the short and medium term outcomes related to different facets of human capital: health, cognition, and educational attainment, using rich data from children and families in the United States, Colombia, and Ecuador. Moreover, these studies use rigorous quantitative methods to identify the impact of the shocks on child outcomes and to address potential selection concerns. The panel also explores possible mechanisms that could explain the persistent effects of the shocks on children. In particular, the papers study how these early life conditions affect parental investments and the quality of the family environment. To our knowledge, little research has explored the potential pathways through which early life influences affect child outcomes. The evidence presented by this panel provides valuable insights that help inform policies aimed at ameliorating/mitigating the consequences of early disadvantage, which can exacerbate poverty and contribute to intergenerational transmission of inequality. This panel integrates the perspectives of scientists from different disciplines including public policy, social work, public administration, psychology, and public health.